Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Success Stories
Screenwriting & Playwriting
- In partnership with game developers at Entertainment Technology Corporation (EnTCo), a team of students from Westphal College's Screenwriting & Playwriting and Digital Media programs wrote the script for a new interactive simulator ride that won Best New Product at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Convention in November, 2004. Thomas Dunn, David Casey, Ellie Pyle, Tom Brennan and Gabriel Didomenico designed an interactive narrative offering multiple options to the rider, each with its own consequences. Digital Media students contributed 3D services: Serge Aluker designed the 3D animation, and Eric Levy built a 3D model of the ride and also produced a marketing video that helped EnTCo win "Best Exhibit" at the IAAPA Convention in addition to the product award.
- In the summer of 2004 Tom Brennan Co-Oped at Marvel Comics.
- John Reha auditioned for a commercial while Co-Opping for a talent management company ESI in Los Angles, and was hired to appear in a national commercial for Dodge Automobile. His Co-op earnings, est. between $60,000 - $80,000, set an all-time record for Drexel Co-ops! Reha is now an executive at ESI and will hire two-three SCRP majors for Co-ops this year.
- Greg Benevent won the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 2003 apprenticeship in Television Scriptwriting Drama. The program is a national competition, selected as one of the top ten internship programs of any kind in the U.S. by the Princeton Review's "America's Top Internships." Greg interned with the "Star Trek: Enterprise" writers and received a $4,000 stipend.
Graphic Design
- The most recent "glam" Co-op was two students working at RCA records in New York City.
- Graphic Design students are also at publishing companies Quirk Books and McGraw Hill Publishing.
- The TROCADERO requested design help from Drexel Co-ops for poster art concert promotions.
Fashion Design
- Recent fashion design students conducted Co-ops with designers Anna Sui, Betsy Johnson, Donna Karan, and Vera Wang in New York City.
Digital Media
- Digital Media major, Steve Viola went from Co-op at Universal Pictures Creative Operations to full-time, paid employee leading the Theatrical Graphics. A vacancy in their Theatrical Graphics department provided the perfect opportunity for Viola to demonstrate his skill. Now, he has a portfolio of films to compete with any Hollywood professional:
- Ray
- The Perfect Man
- Bridget Jones 2 - The Edge of Reason
- Friday Night Lights
- Meet the Fockers
- White Noise
- Cinderella Man
- The Wedding Date
- The Interpreter
- In Good Company
- Two for the Money
Film & Video
- Recent Film & Video Majors Have Done Co-Ops at CBS, MTV, and Walt Disney Studios.
Photography
- Photography major, Sarah Stolfa won the 2004 NY Times Photography Competition. Her photo essay, The Regulars, was featured in the June 13th Sunday Magazine.
Design & Merchandising
- Senior Westphal College D&M team of Krisha Bobila and Michelle Tang prevailed over teams from the region's other universities in The Philadelphia Fashion Group Educational Foundation's "Business of Fashion" competition in January 2004. The competition created an educational event emphasizing the business aspects of the fashion industry and offered area students an opportunity for future fashion business leaders to square off against their peers.
- Twelve teams representing area universities responded to the challenge of coming up with an approach to expand Spanish retailer Zara's business globally, based on a Harvard Business School Case Study.
- Senior industry executives from MothersWork, David's Bridal, and Liz Claiborne International judged the event on the quality of the teams' written and oral presentations.
- The judging panel lauded the outstanding presentation skills and professionalism demonstrated by Krisha and Michelle. Both received $1000 in prize money and a certificate noting their achievement.
Interior Design
- Kristen Shoup was awarded $30,000 by the Angelo Donghia Foundation as one of eleven candidates based upon a portfolio competition in July 2004.
- Amy Melvin was also awarded $30,000 by the Foundation in July 2002 for the same portfolio competition.
- Jaclyn Lucas, Elizabeth Degrazia and Rebecca Ward were awarded Best of Show, $1,200 for their entry "Green Machine" in the 2003/2004 Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Student Design Competition.